In Moscow, Ukraine intervention has fans, critics

Mar. 2, 2014
|

Moscow police detain a participant of protests March 2 against President Vladimir Putin's decision to send Russian troops in Crimea peninsula. Her poster reads 'Hands off Ukraine.' / European Pressphoto Agency

by Anna Arutunyan, Special to USA TODAY

by Anna Arutunyan, Special to USA TODAY

MOSCOW - Muscovites demonstrated in the street Sunday voicing protest against and support for the Russian government's threat to deploy armed forces to Ukraine. But while authorities accommodated and encouraged a pro-government rally, a smaller protest down the street was not sanctioned.

"I'm sick of it," said Olga Ivanova, a public school teacher in Moscow who said that her bosses told her to go to demonstrate in support of the government's actions in Ukraine. Instead, she went to the unsanctioned protest rally down the street. "It wasn't completely obligatory, but it was hard to say no. Nevertheless, I said I couldn't. I want to come out and support my own position. I feel there shouldn't be any armed intervention."

Police cordoned off several central streets in Moscow to let the thousands-strong pro-government marchers pass. Police said 27,000 people had showed up for the demonstration, with many holding signs that said, "We won't give up Sevastopol," and "Maidan won't pass," referring to Independence Square in Kiev, where the pro-Western opposition succeeded in ousting Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich.

Few at the rally agreed to talk to reporters, particularly to an American publication. "Go talk to someone else," said a man holding a poster that said "I'm with Putin."

Another man holding an identical sign agreed to talk when assured that his words would not be taken out of context.

"I am a small person, so I can't judge the actions of the president," said the man, who identified himself as Alexander Pyshkin. "But I think it's only right that we support Russians in Ukraine. I remember how beautiful Lviv (in Western Ukraine) used to be. Now my friends there tell me the stores are being looted."

Others who came out to support the government said they were against military action, but for law and order for Russian-speaking residents in Ukraine.

"I live in Moscow but I was born in Feodosia. I have a lot of friends there. We know the situation there. My mother lives in Crimea, and I remember when Russian-speaking residents were forced to get Ukrainian citizenship when Ukraine became independent in 1991," said Nina, who declined to give her last name.

"I want to support the Russian-speaking population, but only peacefully," said Natalia Ivanova, a Muscovite in her 40s, adding that she didn't think Russia would actually intervene militarily. "But if it's necessary, then it should be done. Still, the people (in Crimea) are very organized, I don't think they would need outside help to stand up for themselves."

Down the street, an anti-government rally in front of the Kremlin gathered between 150 and 700 people during the afternoon, according to various estimates. Some demonstrators were scared away by police, who told the crowd over loudspeakers that the gathering "has not been sanctioned by executive authorities."

A number of people who unfurled signs protesting Russian military action in Ukraine were seen being hauled away by riot police to several nearby trucks. A total of 285 people were detained for protesting, according to Moscow police. At one point, a riot police officer called out through a loudspeaker: "Dear women, there's not going to be a war, please leave."

"People are gathered here who are outraged by the insolent policies of this country's government and Putin in particular," said Mikhail Barinov, a Muscovite and retired geologist in his late 50s.

Asked if he felt that Saturday's ruling by Russia's senate, allowing the deployment of armed forces to Ukraine, would lead to military action, he said "an intervention has already begun. Yesterday, I couldn't believe that such an idiotic, odious decision had been taken by the so-called Federation Council. It's a disgrace.

"I have relatives in the Ukraine that have lived there for 100 years," he said. "I haven't seen any violations whatsoever against Russians there in the 20-something years since the breakup of the Soviet Union. I regret that I didn't come out in protest together with the seven others in spring 1968" when the Soviet Union sent troops to rein in the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia."